Community News Editor, Columbia Missourian, and Assistant Professional Practice Professor, University of Missouri School of Journalism

The University of Missouri School of Journalism and the Columbia Missourian are looking for a dynamic individual with expertise, vision and energy to serve as a community news editor of digital and print editions of the community newspaper. This is a full-time, benefit-eligible, renewable, 12-month faculty appointment. The anticipated start date for the position is July 1, 2021.

This position involves guiding story development, overseeing daily, and editing student journalist reporting in a rapidly changing organization. The successful candidate must be able to lead change and collaborate with faculty, staff and students across newsrooms and platforms throughout the Missouri School of Journalism. Our news outlets serve Mid-Missouri and share content from our large statehouse operation with journalism outlets across the state. In addition to the Columbia Missourian, our media holdings include a city magazine (Vox), a commercial NBC affiliated television station (KOMU-TV), and NPR member station (KBIA-FM) and a digital statewide business publication (Missouri Business Alert).

For more than 100 years journalism students have obtained hands-on experience at the Missourian utilizing the Missouri Method. This learning-by-doing experience in community newsrooms continues to be the gold standard for training journalists.

In addition to overseeing coverage and serving as a lab instructor in reporting classes, community news editors teach journalism classes in the Journalism School.

The right candidate will have writing, editing and supervisory skills, teaching or training experience and an enthusiasm for working with aspiring journalists.

The community news editor will:

• Serve as an originating editor at the Columbia Missourian, assigning and directing reporters
• Oversee news coverage and products produced by assigned students
• Manage a staff of several dozen student reporters, plus graduate and undergraduate student workers
• Plan and supervise necessary travel
• Teach a journalism class each semester
• Work with community members and leaders to build relationships and ensure inclusive coverage.
• Hold a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
• Coordinate with photo, graphics, news and community editors in covering the community.
• Work with the news director, community editors and students at other Missouri School of Journalism news platforms to create quality converged coverage.
• Other duties as assigned
• Minimum Qualifications:
• At least 5 years of experience in writing, editing and managing staff in a digital journalism environment.
• A bachelor’s degree.

The committee is also interested in candidates who bring:

• The ethical judgment and skill to teach young journalists how to make tough calls on their feet.
• A proven track record of producing quality news coverage.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• A deep, applied understanding of how to use visual and audio journalism, digital video, and social media to enhance journalistic storytelling.
• The ability to juggle a vibrant daily newsroom’s many needs with ambitious, long-term projects.
• A track record as a collegial collaborator in a newsroom without silos.

This position will require some nights and weekends, and work hours will vary depending on news coverage and production needs, which will be determined in consultation with the Executive Editor.

Apply online at https://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic with job ID 36150 by uploading (a) a letter of application that describes your interest in teaching and editing students and about your commitment to and experience with amplifying voices in traditionally marginalized communities; (b) a curriculum vitae, (c) the names and contact information for three references, and (d) a one page diversity statement that specifically addresses how you would engage with a diverse student population with regards to teaching, research, mentoring, and advising.

The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.